The Verge: BMW i8 hands-on

Popular tech and gadgets blog The Verge took the time to explore the BMW i8 from up-close. The encounter took place in NYC before the …

Popular tech and gadgets blog The Verge took the time to explore the BMW i8 from up-close. The encounter took place in NYC before the i8 hybrid sportscar headed to Munich for another event. Here are some thoughts from a magazine that focuses mostly on technology:

“It’s a little weird being this up close and personal with a concept supercar — it’s about a half-and-half mix of functional futuristic technology and blinky-lights mockups. Fortunately, the big stuff is all real: the car is drivable, those insane gullwing doors flip right open, and the Laserlight headlights do indeed provide light from lasers. It’s the little stuff that doesn’t work: none of the dashboard animations were real, most of the interior is a mockup, and we doubt BMW is actually going to build the doors out of glass.

BMW says this model is slightly newer than the one in Mission Impossible 4, and that the hybrid drivetrain is good to hit 60mph in around 4.6 seconds while still getting 78mpg. Obviously those numbers are a bit hypothetical until a real i8 arrives on dealer lots, but even getting in the range would be impressive.”